The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-09
RIGHTS OF OUR FISHERMEN
Growing Excitement Over the Late Seiz-
ure Of an American Vessel at SOuris.
A Conference Which Seems to Have Been
Fruitless-Rumor that British War Ships
Will Take Part in Settling the Trouble.

at Souris. which is now reported to be not only
an offense against the customs laws, but also for
aviolaton of the treaty Of 1918. and to be such
serious case as to require the immediate pres
ence of Consul-general Phelan. Great interest
also attaches to a conference which took place
that day between the Minister of Fisheries
| Rear Admiral Luce, Consul general Phelan and
| Captain Scott The conference occurred on
board the United States flagship Richmond and
lasted over an hour. It is understood that cir
cumstances connected with recent seizures the
administration of Canadian customs regulations,
the rights of American fishermen in Ca
madam waters the statement Of questions
| by Admiral Luce and Captain SCOTS re-.
| plies thereto. and other matters were freely
| and frankly discussed, though purely informally.
| The result is that this interchange of views has
| caused such personal understanding to be
| rived at as will materially aid in solving num-
| Der of knotty points hitherto a source of annoy
and irritation, and to tend to simplify affairs
| in the future Regarding the cases of tho
| Gloucester schooners Argonaut and French,
| Minister Foster declared it to be the intention
of the Canadian authorities to capture those
vessels wherever they could find them, either
| inside the Canadian limit or on the high seas
! outside the territorial waters of the United
| States. He argued that the vessels upon the
guilty of violating the treaty and therefore were
| liable to forfeiture, and forfeited vessel could
| be taken anywhere outside the territorial waters
| of another power Both Admiral Luce and
Consnl-eeneral Phelan strongly dissented from
this view, and emphatically expressed their
opinions that the United States would never
permit those vessels to be taken outside the
territorial waters of Canada
Regarding the supply of necessaries of life to
American vessels coming in from the banks des-
tirute the Minister explained that while no ves-
sci would be permitted to suffer for food, it was
not his mention to allow American vessels to
fish until all their provisions were exhausted
and then play upon Canadian sympathy for
fresh supply. The Minister said that he had
not received the details of the Souris seizure,
but If the men were shipped outside the limit,
alleged by the skipper of the Perkins, he
thought the matter could be amicably adjusted.
The gathering was mutually agreeable and will
doubtless result in more pleasan. relations in
the future than those which have hitherto pre-
vailed But while interest attached to the
seizure and the conference, by far the greatest
interest conferred in the current report that
Secretary of the Navy Whitney has teleeraphed
Admiral Luce to withdraw all circulars or mem
oranda of instructions that he may have author
lied or issued to American fishermen. Admiral
Luce authorizes the following statement
gard TO the circular which he issued giving in
structions to American fishermen.
MY position is easily defined. It is under
stood by common report that the United States
government and that of Great Britain are now
negotiating for settlement of the fishery ques-
ton. Pending these negotiations IL is the part
of the United States vessels of war in Canadian
waters TO aviod doing anything that might
harass the government or add to the complica-
ton of the various questions at Issue. The
ships of the North Atlantic squadron were not
sent to the Gulf of ST. Lawrence TO prevent by
force, seizure of American fishermen by Do
minlon cruisers for alleged violation of laws for
the protection of the inshore fisheries. but
rather to render such moral support the mere
presence of our ships might afford. In the
of the seizure of American fishing
vessel for alleged violation of the laws of the
Dom inlon, the case must be fought out in the
courts, not by the Dominion cruiser and vessel
of war of the United States. This is not abating
one jot or one little on the American side of tho
question. for If the Dominion courts find in oppo-
sition to the claim of the United States, then the
be taken up by government and
submitted, if necessary. to arbitration. The ap-
peal to arms as some of our newspapers suggest,
is supposed to be the measure of last resort
Had the entire United States navy been present
in September, 1856. it could not have legally
prevented the seizure. by very small Dominion
cruiser, of the Highland Light for fishing within
the three milo limit However tenaclously
may uphold the justice of the American side OF
the question. it has saved the of the
David j. Adams and Ellen NJ. Doughty from
dragging through the courts now for over year.
And whatever may be the decision Of those
cases, the fact remains that the
each case was broken up and the parties most di-
rectly concerned subjected to much inconveni- :.
enc. Hence. to enable our fishermen TO keep
out of the courts the first and most obvious step
to ascertain the nature of the instructions
issued to the Dominion cruisers. and. having OBJ
tanned that information the next step was to
give our fishermen the benefits Of it, without in
dorsement by me or by American officials of the
views embraced in those instructions. Coupled
with this information was the warning that in
the event of seizure the would have to go
M
powered to iuterpose to prevent the law from
taking its course The only exception to this
that am aware of is in doubtful cases, or in
where the rights of our fishermen seem to
have been clearly violated by the Dominion
cruisers. In that event, the question is referred
by the nearest United States consugeneral at
Halifax. who makes up the case and submits to
the State Department at Washington. >"
1. The British shps now in the North Amer
lean waters to take hand in settling the
fisheries troubles. This announcement
made late Saturday night and has caused genu-
inc surprise all sides. It is the first time
that the British authorities have interfered in
the fisheries fight, and the unexpected change of
policy occasions no little anxiety among Ameri-
cans here. They don't know what to make of it.
The men-of-war will not act patrols only 10
keep American fishermen outside the forbidden
waters. but will make seizures when they cross
the line. There three ships available
for the service at this moment-Admiral Lyons's
flagship The Bellerophon the Canada and the
Pylades These vessels are now in Halifax har-
Dor. The present intention Is to send the ships,
early next week, to the Gulf of St Lawrence to
reinforce the five Canadian cruisers already
there 1t is not likely that than three
war ships will be put the work of seizing
Yankees, but if it should be considered advsa-
BILE, many more be ordered into their
waters in Newfoundland aud Bermuda at a few
days notice.
Consul general Phelan has received no further
advices concerning the seizure. at Souris. of the
schooner j. II. Perrin, and it is not likely that
he will hear anything more until tho course to be
pursued by the Dominion authorities is known
The statement is repeated that the British war
Hiatt M IN fhaGa tar ia n OO
and the Prince Edward island coast to protect
the fisheries from American eDcroacb ments
Those giving the report profess to know whereof
they speak, but nothing connecting the menof-
with the fishery service is to be ascertained |
from the quarters most interested Commander
Bermount. of the war ship Canada, states that
his shin the Rellaronnon and the TourmalIne |